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Stunned Sally, from Chaddesden, said: “We just started throwing bread about for the birds and after five to 10 minutes two women in uniform came up to us. Fear hit me a little bit because I thought that they were policewomen initially.

“The officers told us that we were littering and we were instructed to pay a fine. At this point I was in tears and I was shaking all over. Me and my partner went straight to the council and paid the fine."

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She said: “He can’t walk very far because of the pain and he has good and bad days. On a good day when it’s hurting him less we will head down to the spot where we were yesterday."

Rubbish dumped next to the spot where Sally and David were fined. (Image: Victoria Wilcox)

Sally explained how she has seen many people standing in the same spot feeding the ducks before but has never heard of people being fined.

The fine and Sally's payment receipt.

Shortly after receiving her fine, Sally said a man who was also feeding the birds was approached by the council employees but he claimed he didn't have any bread on him. It is thought no action was taken against him.

She said: “We were fortunate enough to be able to pay the fine off straight away and it has not left us penniless.

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“But what if this was a young mother with her children coming to feed the ducks? What if she couldn’t afford the fine? That could mean that a young child might have to go without a Christmas present this year.

“I’m not going to go and feed them again. Regardless of the fine we got, now we know it’s an offence to feed them so we will stop.

“That might mean that the birds could go hungry, especially at this time of year when the ground is hard and food is scarcer, but that’s just how it goes.”

A Derby City Council spokesperson, said: “It is not our intention to target individuals unnecessarily and issue fines where education is more appropriate.

"Derby City Council discourages people from feeding birds in the city centre as this can encourage pigeons and rats which are vermin which carry and spread disease.

"They can also be seen as a nuisance, damaging building and creating an unpleasant experience for pedestrians walking through the River Gardens.

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"Given the particular circumstances which have subsequently come to light, we will be contacting the individual with the intention of cancelling the fixed penalty notice; but would like to remind the public littering is an offence and we would advise people not to encourage vermin by feeding birds in the city centre.

"Anyone caught could be liable to receive a £75 fixed penalty notice.”